During a match on Thursday against Linky Hijikata, Ben Shelton and spectators were taken by surprise when officials halted play just as he was about to serve. This occurred while they were leading 5-4 in the third set, at 9:29 PM local time, due to inadequate lighting. Shelton expressed his frustration, suggesting that ESPN’s commentary was, well, understandable under the circumstances, as he moved toward the chair umpire.
An official attempted to soothe him, but Shelton remained visibly upset, even as he began to pack his racket and make his way to the locker room.
Prior to his exit, the crowd in the second court applauded him warmly.
The match will continue on Friday, which interrupts Shelton’s chance for a well-deserved rest day, despite his solid performance leading with scores of 6-2, 7-5 in the first two sets.
Both players had reportedly asked the officials to pause play for over 30 minutes before it officially stopped, according to an ESPN broadcast. Analyst James Blake criticized the decisions made, arguing that poor calls led to even worse ones. He mentioned that stopping play either after the second set or at 4-2 would have been a more sensible choice.
The second court lacks a roof or artificial lighting, and a spokesperson confirmed that, given the poor lighting conditions, the match could not proceed, with no options available to switch courts.
As he seeks his first Grand Slam victory, Shelton is hoping to build on his success from last year’s fourth round at Wimbledon.
